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We run a family goal-making process each year and find that it’s such a powerful motivator. The entire family participates, but I’m triggered to write this today because our two oldest kids just knocked off three goals this weekend.

The oldest ran 10 times around the local field, achieving one of his “Body” goals.

The middle ran 5 times around the local field, and also rode his bike without training wheels for the first time, achieving two of his “Body” goals. Look at the video, watch to the end. Although he's showing off how to do figure eights, he also learns that turning too sharply is as good as slamming on the brakes.

Some other selected goal statuses this year:

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I’ve been thinking about parenting style or parenting strategy lately. What does it mean to have a parenting style? Why do we even need to have different styles; isn’t there just one best style? Why don’t we all just use the perfect strategy? Military generals, poker players, race car drivers, and football teams use strategies and styles that they think they will defeat the other strategies and styles. Are we competing against other parents to create the winning kid?

I think it makes the most sense to have a vision of the outcome and make decision that we think will get us there. Let’s look at what we want to create with our children. When they grow up we want them to be a certain way, to have certain properties: Confidence. Intelligence, Wisdom, Courage, Motivation, Integrity, Creativity, Leadership. Whatever they are. Our day-to-day parental actions should favour those properties, and disfavour the opposite.

I have a vivid imagination and sometimes I develop an extremely rich one-shot picture of an outcome, complete with the emotions and thoughts of the players. When I consider the future of my sons, I have one of those visions.